The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-09-17
JAPANESE WOMEN.
The Artistic Superiority and Picturesqu,
ness Of Their National Habiliments.

The Artistic Superiority and Picturesque
ness Of Their National Habiliments.
The general attractiveness of the
japanese fair sex, as to which there are
hardly two opinions, is due in more
than ordinary degree to the becoming
character of their raiment and the
grace with which it Is worn Few jap
anese women possess physical beauty
of those lofty types which are the
Western ideals. They are for the most
part comedy and engaging, rather than
handsome. Dark eyes and hair, pen
ciled eyebrows, well set necks and re-
markably good teeth, together with
bright, artless manners and a winning
smile, serve to draw attention from If
Irregularities of feature which will hard
ly bear critical scrutiny. 1t is the
combination of physique, grace, dress
and manner that makes up the agree
able sum total of the average young
girl or matron. AS well in the brisk,
bronze checked serving maid, with her
homely but tasteful garments, her eyes
of kindness, and her pretty ways, as in
the refined little lady of high degree,
pale skinned and gentle hammered, in
her rich, exquisitely neat dress of cere-
mony, the visitor and the resident alike
recognized most pleasing specimens of
womankind. But they also recognize
how much of the general outward eff
feet is really due to the picturesqueness
of the national garb. If confirmation
of this be needed, it is sufficient to be-
hold the same women clad in foreign
clothes; or to mix in any gathering
where the two styles can be seen to-
gether. Making full allowace for the
disadvantages that, in the nature of
things. must tell against costume to
which its wearer is wholly unaccus-
toned, no one who has eyes to see can
then hesitate as to the artistic superb
ority of the Japanese apparel. And,
beside its esthetic merits, the latter
has other points of excellence. 1t is
healthy. in that it involves no dis
tortion or compression of the kinds inn
posed by Western fashions. If the
skirts of a we'll dressed lady's robes are
gathered somewhat too tightly for very
active locomotion-perhaps the only
fault that can be found in her whole
attire-no other part of her frame is
subjected to unnatural constraint; while
the massive girdle gives warmth and
protection to the chief bodily organs.
Secondly. it is very much less expen-
sive than the costly and irr ational ha-
biliments of the West. Jewelry, more
over, forms no part of it in any station
of life. Again, its fashions are abid-
ing. While Japanese belle, like all
her sex, delights in having good clothes
and many of them, she has, or at least
has hitherto had, the comfortable as
surance that her ever increasing ward
robe is in no danger of being at any
moment thrown out of date by the
caprices of court milliners and fashion
mongers. Lastly, it is admirably suit
ed to the beautiful fabrics of the coun-
try. 1t is no wonder, then, that the
grievous change now in progress is
loudly deprecated by nearly all on
lockers. With most of us the first
feeling is one of wrathful Indignation.
That the Japanese, who are nothing
if not artistic, should set them
selves in this cold-blooded way to
b OF out one of the most delightful and
picturesque features of the whole ma
tional life is regarded as incredible, I'M
natural and exasperating. 1t is van
dalism; it is sacrilege; it is senseless
mimicry; it is every thing that is bad.
That is the general lament and there
seems to be good deal in its favor.
But, on the other hand, is it possible
that sacrifice so deplorable and so
palpably to Japan's loss rests on no
stronger or higher ground than giddy
aspiration to ape. even to this bitter
end, the pomps and fashions of the
West? 1t is habit in certain quarters
to speak of the Japanese as nation Of
children, always thirsting after some
new toy. Yet that character will
hardly be assigned to Count Ito, even
by the most reckless of censors. And
Count Ito it undoubtedly was who adj
vised the Empress to inaugurate the
pew movemeut-Londow iMpes,